Clint Hill expects Jonah Ayunga to play a “big part” in Bristol Rovers’ bid for League One survival.
The striker has endured a stuttering start to his career at the Mem due to injury and a revolving door of managers, but the former Havant & Waterlooville forward has come to life in recent weeks.
He sparked a comeback win over Portsmouth last month with a brilliant brace, and he spearheaded a menacing attacking performance from the Gas against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old target man bullied the Stanley defence and brought Rovers’ creative players into the game as the Gas romped to a 4-1 win to climb out of the drop zone.
Ayunga is almost certain to be in Joey Barton's starting XI for Saturday’s high-stakes battle with relegation rivals AFC Wimbledon
Hill, Barton's assistant and former Premier League teammate, admitted Ayunga is not a striker he would relish playing against.
“You see glimpses in training but the big test is putting it into a first-team environment,” Hill said.
“It’s his first year at the level, and he really shone on Tuesday. He showed all the attributes that probably brought him to this club.
“We’re pleased for him. He’s had to wait for his chance, and he’s taken it.
“I thought he was magnificent. He gave us that platform to build on and he never gave Accrington’s defenders a minute’s peace.
“The only thing that was missing was a goal, and he deserved a couple if we’re being honest.
“We’re really pleased with him, he’s confident and he’s going to play a big part – as most of the other lads will do – in our fight to get up this league.”
At the other end of the pitch, Hill has the task of stamping out the individual errors and set piece woes that have been an Achilles heel for Rovers this season.
Hill is pleased by the attitude of Rovers’ defenders to improve but there is still plenty of work to do.
“First and foremost is realising you do have a concern in those areas, because if you carry on blindly in those roles you do get punished, so we’ve highlighted that,” he said.
“The lads have taken it on board and we practice it. Unfortunately, we conceded a freak one the other night, which was disappointing, but overall in the previous three or four games the lads have executed really well.
“Listen, individual errors, you’re going to get that in football. It happens at every level and we’re looking for the response more than anything.
“If you make a mistake, that happens, but don’t dwell on it, don’t take two, three, four, five seconds to get over it, just react in the right way and get on with the game.
“The lads have taken that on board as well, so a lot of positives, but we know we need to execute that in every game we face.”
